Thursday, January 29, 2015

In putting together an in-house training video to illustrate good presentation practices, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation featured footage of Garver employees presenting at a public meeting in Mulhall, Oklahoma.

Garver’s Transportation Design Team in Tulsa has become a go-to consultant for ODOT because of their collaborative services in preliminary engineering, environmental studies, and public involvement, in addition to traditional design services.

“ODOT has historically provided the bulk of behind-the-scenes tasks when it comes to public involvement services, but they’re starting to rely on Garver to supplement them in these tasks,” said Garver Project Manager Jenny Sallee, who was featured in the training video.

Public and stakeholder meetings are an integral part of the National Environmental Policy Act process required for federal funding. Garver has conducted meetings for ODOT on eight projects and is already contracted for eight additional projects through 2016.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Crews recently completed a nine-month, $16.5 million Garver-designed improvement project at Huntsville International Airport. The improvements allow FAA Group VI aircraft to utilize the airport’s east runway, a necessity for the airport given that it handles so much cargo traffic. The FAA's Group VI covers large-bodied aircraft, including the Boeing 747-8F, which has a maximum take-off weight of 987,000 pounds. The airport is 14th among U.S. international air cargo airports.

"Huntsville serves a very important role in air cargo," said Garver Project Manager Ryan Reed. "The airport stages weekly international non-stop flights to Europe, Mexico, Hong Kong and San Paulo, Brazil. This upgrade allows Huntsville International to fulfill their mission to its fullest extent."

In July 2013, the airport reopened its west runway after a year-long, $30 million construction project. Now, both the east and west runways can handle Group VI aircraft.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

The newest issue of Garver's IQ should be in subscribers' mailboxes soon. In the meantime, you can begin
reading our online edition now. This edition features:

Director's InsightGarver Has Crafted Generation of Transportation Planning and Design"Transportation planning and design is a craft that has been passed along
through the generations of Garver engineers from Neal Garver to Sanford
Wilbourn to Bill Driggers to Ted Hannah to our current Transportation
Team leaders." — Director of Transportation Jerry Holder 5th Street ImprovementsFrisco, TexasCity Builds Complete Street
"We're connecting an historic downtown with a modern part of town, and
we're doing it in a way that gives this neighborhood a safe place to
drive, walk, and bike," — Senior Project Manager Quinn Spann

Dennis F. Cantrell FieldConway, ArkansasCity Get Safer Airport"The first time I flew in here, I saw what every pilot and passenger who
comes through will see—Conway has a world-class airport." — Project Manager Blake Roberson

Helena WWTPHelena, AlabamaNutrient Challange
"We worked with plant staff and city leaders to help convey what it
takes to meet both the current and future permit limits, why it's
important to treat for those permit requirements, and why plant
improvements are necessary." — Project Manager Wes Cardwell

Fairfax BridgeKansas City, MissouriDesign-Build Project"This is our first chance to work for MoDOT on a major project, and we
have two offices in this area because we want to build more than a
bridge—we want to build a relationship." —
Senior Project Manager Blake Blakemore

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Garver
congratulates Project Manager Blake Staton, who serves on Garver’s Bridge Team in the
Huntsville, Alabama office, for earning the NCEES Model Law designation of
Structural Engineer (MLSE). This designation indicates that Blake meets
NCEES’s Model Law requirements in education, experience, and examination in the
field of structural engineering. Obtaining this designation requires a
structurally focused graduate education, broad structural engineering work
history, and a rigorous 16 hours of NCEES structural examination.

"While
the SE designation is not required to practice structural engineering in many
states, it does distinguish Garver in the bridge design field," Bridge Team Leader John Ruddell said. "Garver has
an accomplished history of complex bridge design expertise, and people like
Blake are continuing this proud tradition."

“Obtaining SE licensure has been a goal of mine since I started my engineering
career," Blake said. "It serves as another reassurance to our
clients that Garver has the qualifications and capabilities to tackle their most
complex projects."